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ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
9101, 9102, 9103, 9104 English 9
(Grade 9) 1 Credit
English 9101 and 9102 are
designed to accommodate the
needs of college-bound
students. English 9103 and
9104 are offered to students
who do not plan to attend
college. English 9 is an
introduction to the various
types of literature: prose,
poetry, and drama. Students
will engage in an in-depth
study of the elements of
literature and will compare
the elements to see which are
particular to each type and
which are common among the
types of literature. In
addition, writing in response
to literature is a focus of
this course as students will
write to inform, persuade,
and narrate. Students will
formulate ideas and views in
response to the literature
and its characters. Elements
of style in writing will also
be addressed in the course
through both a formal and
informal study of grammar and
mechanics.
010H English 10 Honors
(Grade 10)
1 Credit
Prerequisite: B or above in
English 9 and Teacher Recommendation
Honors is a weighted
course designed to
accommodate the needs of the
highly motivated,
college-bound student. The
course provides extensive
work in vocabulary, usage,
writing skills, thinking
skills, and literary
interpretation. A high
proficiency of grammar is
necessary to be successful in
this course. A survey of
world literature is studied
to emphasize point-of-view
with its effect on tone,
subject, and theme. An
understanding of irony and
satire becomes extremely
important in the study of
world literature, which
includes such forms as the
short story, the novel, the
essay, the play, and the
poem. Individual and group
reports, as well as speeches
and presentations, are
required, and research
becomes an integral part of
the students' learning.
Long-range assignments
encourage the student in this
course to work independently.
0102, 0103, 0104 English 10
Regular (Grade 10) 1 Credit
English 0102 is designed
to accommodate the needs of
college-bound students.
English 0103 and 0104 are
offered to students who do
not plan to attend college.
In English 10, the student is
expected to learn to analyze,
to interpret, to write, to
speak, and to listen more
effectively. The student,
college-bound or not, will
study vocabulary, usage, and
grammar as needed. A survey
of world literature is
studied to emphasize
point-of-view with its effect
on time, subject, and theme.
An understanding of irony and
satire becomes necessary in
the study of world literature
which includes such forms as
the short story, the novel,
the essay, the play, and the
poem. The course will provide
activities to enhance oral
and written communication
skills and to improve
thinking skills. Certain
assignments will require the
use of research skills.
110H English 11 Honors (Grade 11)
1 Credit
Prerequisite: C or above in Eng.
10 Honors or B or above in Eng. 0102
and Teacher Recommendation
English 11 Honors is a
weighted course designed to
accommodate the needs of the
most capable college-bound
students. The course is
primarily a study of
challenging American
literature in its various
forms. This course enables
students to increase their
vocabulary, to improve their
critical thinking skills, to
observe and evaluate various
values systems, to examine
themselves, to use their
imagination, and to extend
their exposure to the finer
points of formal English.
Throughout the course,
students are involved in
various activities to enhance
their oral and written
communication skills, as well
as their research skills.
1102, 1103, 1104 English 11
Regular (Grade 11) 1 Credit
English 1102 is designed
to accommodate the needs of
college-bound students.
English 1103 and 1104 are
offered to students who do
not plan to attend college.
Emphasis is placed upon
American Literature,
vocabulary building,
composition, reading
comprehension and
interpretation, and the use
of standard English in all
forms of communication.
Critical thinking skills are
improved through various
activities.
21AP Advanced Placement
English Literature (Grades
11-12) 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Teacher
Recommendation plus English 11 Honors
or English 10 Honors
The richness and
complexity of language are
explored in areas such as
syntax, imitation, word
choice, and tone. Students
learn about their own
composition style and
process, focusing on
exploration, planning,
writing, editing, rewriting,
and polishing text. Students
will also engage in intensive
work in both critical reading
and thematic organization of
world literature selections,
with emphasis on English
language works, both American
and British. This is a
discussion-based class which
emphasizes critical thinking.
The College Board Advanced
Placement Exam will be
required of those who take
this course. Student is
responsible for half of the
exam fee.
210H English 12 Honors (Grade 12)
1 Credit
Prerequisite: C or above in Eng.
11 Honors or B or above in Eng. 1102
and Teacher Recommendation
English 12 Honors is a
weighted course designed for
students who have outstanding
abilities and extensive
experiences in reading and
writing. Although the
literature studied is chiefly
British, the course also
includes certain classical
Greek and/or Roman plays. In
addition to specific course
requirements in literature,
the student must read,
analyze, and interpret
several literary works
independently. Composition
correlates closely with the
literature; however, there is
adequate opportunity for
creative writing. Language
usage problems and other
writing problems are
corrected individually,
primarily though the
correction of composition.
Language skills are also
emphasized in oral work.
While a study of the history
of the English language is
included in this course, the
main purpose of the course is
to improve critical thinking
skills and to enhance the
student’s ability to analyze
literary works in order to
increase their awareness of
the worth and relationships.
The students in this course
will further develop their
research skills in
preparation of a research
paper, a requirement of
English 12 Honors. In
addition, students will
complete a graduation project
under the direction of their
senior English Teacher.
2102, 2103, 2104 English 12
Regular (Grade 12) 1 Credit
English 2102 is designed
to accommodate the needs of
college-bound students.
English 2103 and 2104 are
offered to students who do
not plan to attend college.
English 12 is designed to
accommodate the needs of the
student who may or may not be
college-bound. The study of
literature, some of which is
British, provides the student
with the opportunity to
increase his/her awareness of
the worth and dignity of man
and thereby to achieve a
broader understanding of
human emotions, motives, and
relationships. Emphasis is
placed upon vocabulary growth
as well as improved oral and
written communication skills.
Various activities require
the use of creative and
critical thinking skills.
Students will complete a
graduation project under the
direction of their senior
English Teacher.
1140 Dramatic Arts (Grades 11-12)
1 Credit
Prerequisite: English 10
Dramatic Arts is an
English elective whose major
emphasis is placed upon
improvisation, role playing,
acting, writing and enacting
scenes and skits, and method
of delivery to an audience.
Students learn how to use
their acting ability and/or
talent in practical
situations. Interpretation of
and involvement with various
types of drama develops
within students an
appreciation of the theater.
The emphasis on the need for
creative thinking and the
requirements of dramatic
presentation develop
self-confidence and poise
within the student. The need
for group work fosters an
acceptance and understanding
of others who have very
different backgrounds and
interests. Since the elements
of the course are extremely
diversified, Dramatic Arts
provides the availability of
success to all students yet
challenges each student at
his/her own level. If time
allows, the course will
include the history of the
theater as well as the study
of certain plays and
playwrights.
1135 Elements of Debate (Grades
11-12) .5 Credit
This course will focus on
argumentation and debate and
will emphasize logical
argument techniques in varied
debate formats. Students who
wish to pursue careers in
law, communications, public
relations, or other areas
where oral communication and
persuasion are beneficial
should take this course.
1155 Journalism I (Grades 11-12)
.5 Credit
This course will focus on
the specific skill of writing
journalistically. The purpose
of this course is to prepare
students to write for
publications such as a
newspaper or yearbook.
Students will write articles
which will be revised to
publication quality.
2155 Journalism II (Grades 11-12)
.5 Credit
Prerequisite: Journalism I
This course will be a continuation
of Journalism I.
1190 Media I (Grades 10-12) .5
Credit
Prerequisite: C or above in
English 10
Students will examine how
media messages are designed,
created, and targeted for
their audiences. Students
will become proficient in the
operation of portable and
studio cameras, and they will
conduct interviews, as well
as shoot and edit video for
class and individual
projects. Students will learn
to operate the control board,
which includes the character
generator, switcher, and
soundboard, for announcements
and other student
productions.
2190 Media II (Grades 10-12) .5
Credit
Prerequisite: C or above in Media
I
Students will design,
create, and target their
media messages for their
individual audiences.
Students will conduct
interviews and research their
topics as well as shoot and
edit their own video for
class and individual
projects. Students will write
and edit their own scripts
for the student production.
1900 PSSA Reading
(Grade 11) .25
Credit
This course is designed to
strengthen critical reading
skills. Course content will
focus on learning to read
independently and analyzing
and interpreting literature.
Analysis of both fiction and
nonfiction will be addressed.
2150 Speech Communication (Grade
11-12) .5 Credit
Prerequisite: English 10
This speech course
stresses the development of
effective oral communication
skills. It contains a variety
of speech presentations using
diverse methods of delivery.
Both major classifications of
speeches - informative and
persuasive - will be
addressed through varying
projects. Other important
facets of the course are:
impromptu speaking, critical
listening, interviews, group
problem-solving, panel
discussions, voice
improvement and research
skills.
1160 Written Application (Grades
11-12) .5 Credit
Prerequisite: English 10
When it comes to writing
skills, there is always room
for improvement. This English
elective is designed to
strengthen students’ writing
in several areas:
organization, proofreading,
expository techniques, and
justification of opinion.
Written Application may be
taken in conjunction with
Written Communication.
2160 Written Communication (Grades
11-12) .5 Credit
Prerequisite: English 10
This English elective
helps students to increase
their effectiveness in
various types of writing:
mass media, technical,
poetry, short story, and
drama. Written Communication
may be taken in conjunction
with Written Application.
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